Monash Sport News

Hawks take Twenty20 Title

Hawthorn-Monash Uni took out the inaugural Premier Twenty20 title today with a stunning 9-run win over the hot favourites, Melbourne at the Junction Oval. Scores hovered around a run-a-ball throughout the day in all three finals as tight bowling and the extreme heat stifled the scoring and took its toll on the players.

Man of the match Simon Dart

In the semi final at the Harry Trott Oval, Melbourne (4/110) comfortably overtook Frankston Peninsula (109) with almost 5 overs to spare. Liam Buchanan (63* & 2/5) and Andrew McDonald (3/10) were the Demons' stars.

The Hawks won a thriller against the Bombers in the other semi at the Junction Oval. Essendon (7/119) Player of the final Simon Dart batting against the Demons. He made 39* (pic Garry Sparke)began slowly, but Carl Sandri (54 off 44 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes) ensured that the Bombers finished with a reasonable total to defend. They almost did so, with Cape, Hutchinson and Inness bowling tightly, but a boundary and a single off the last two balls of the innings by James Court got Hawthorn-Monash Uni through to the final.

Hawks' skipper Peter Roach elected to bat first in the final but, apart from Simon Dart (39 off 41 balls with 1 four and 1 five), the final total of 8/123 from its 20 overs looked inadequate against a Demons' line-up including four first class players. Fast bowler Rob Cassell (2/24) and leggie Josh Mangan (2/21) were the best of the Melbourne bowlers.

Buchanan, McDonald and Hodge all looked threatening when Melbourne began its response, but lefties Grant Swift (2/27), Dirk Nannes (2/11) and Craig Entwistle (1/35) all took crucial wickets and dried up the runs. Offie Tripathi (1/19) and Simon Dart (3/18) chipped in to demolish the tail and the Demons fell 9 short.

Simon Dart was named the player of the final for his 39* and 3/15.

PREMIER TWENTY20 FINAL

MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN-MONASH UNI
At St Kilda, 26 January 2004.
Umpires G Abood & G Joshua.
P Roach (H-MU) won the toss and batted.

HAWTHORN-MONASH UNI innings
M Cox c Nevill b Cassell 11(13)A crucial moment in the Twenty20 Final - Peter Roach is bowled by Rob Cassell (pic Garry Sparke)
*+P Roach b Cassell 16(12)
S Dart not out 39(41)
G Swift c Buchanan b Harwood 10(12)
A Powell c Petricola b Hodge 5(3)
C Entwistle c Kent b Mangan 6(9)
J Court run out 2(4)
B Stallworthy st Nevill b Mangan 0(1)
J Stevenson run out 11(13)
D Nannes not out 11(10)
V Tripathi did not bat
Extras (4lb 7w 1nb) 12
8 wkts for 123
Fall: 23, 35, 56, 63, 76, 85, 85, 105.
Bowling: S Harwood 4-0-24-1 (1w) R Cassell
4-0-24-2 A McDonald 3-0-18-0 (1w) B Hodge
4-0-24-1 (4w) J Mangan 4-1-21-2 (1w)
Buchanan 1-0-8-0 (1nb).

MELBOURNE innings
L Buchanan b Nannes 11(14)
A McDonald c Stevenson b Swift 27(19)
B Hodge c Stallworthy b Swift 11(14)
A Middlin c Roach b Nannes 10(19)
*A Kent c Stevenson b Entwistle 12(14)
R O'Neill obstructing the field 21(25)
P Petricola b Tripathi 2(5)
S Harwood c Cox b Dart 5(5)
+P Nevill run out 1(1)
R Cassell c and b Dart 7(8)
J Mangan not out 0(0)
Extras (4lb 2w 1nb) 7
Total 114
Fall: 15, 47, 56, 72, 80, 87, 97, 98, 112, 114.
Bowling: Entwistle 4-0-35-1 (1nb) D Nannes 4-1-11-2 (1w)
G Swift 4-0-27-2 (1w) V Tripathi 4-0-19-1 Dart
3.5-0-18-3.

Story originally appeared on the Cricket Victoria website.